1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

(13) 78; (14) 331; (15) 325; (16) 12; (17) 107; (18) 27; (19)307; (20) 229; (21) 127; (22) vow; (23) 209; (24) 301; (25)240; (26) 245; (27) 93; (28) 27; (29) 160; (30) 291.R4989 : page 91===================="THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND OF THE UNJUST"THE RESURRECTION of the just could notmean a resurrection of those who had beenperfect, for there are none perfect, nonejust, "no, not one." "The resurrection ofthe just," then, must mean the resurrectionof those who have been justified; and thejustified are those referred to in the Scripturesof whom Abraham was an example.Abraham believed God, and was justifiedby faith. It was the faith that justified,and the works corroborated the faith.So with the Church of this Age. The Apostle says,"Being justified by faith, we have peace with God throughour Lord Jesus Christ, by whom, also, we have access byfaith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice inhope of the glory of God." (Rom. 5:1,2.) We are notonly justified out of sin, but are also brought by operationof our faith into the glorious standing of members ofChrist; and we may hope to participate with Christ in theglories of His Kingdom in the future. It is one thingto be freed from guilt, and another thing to be raisedto the position of sons of God, heirs of God and joint-heirswith Christ, our Lord.The resurrection of the dead is similarly spoken of inJohn 5:28,29, where we read, "Marvel not at this, forthe hour is coming in the which all that are in the gravesshall hear His voice, and shall come forth." The Lorddoes not mean merely all the good, for He also includesin this all that are in their graves. We read in the contextthat they that have done good shall come forth "untothe resurrection of life"; those who have done evil shallcome forth to "damnation." The word damnation, inthe Greek, signifies a crisis, a turning-point, a decision.THE RESURRECTION OF THE CHURCHThose whose faith enables them to stand through evilreport and through good report, and who thus fulfil theDivine requirement, are character-likenesses of Jesus.These now pass from under the condemnation condition tothe life condition. As the Apostle says, "We know thatwe have passed from death unto life, because we love thebrethren." (I John 3:14.) This passing from deathunto life is not in the full sense in the present time. Byfaith we are reckoned dead with Christ, counted membersof His Body. That future life is reckoned to us. We